Woodstock Police K-9 Dies of Heat Stroke

The Woodstock Police Department is mourning the loss of its police K-9.

The department announced Tuesday afternoon that its K-9 Spartacus, was found dead in his handler's patrol car around 9 p.m. Monday.  

The dog was discovered in the car, which was at the handler's home in Pickens County. 

A necropsy was performed at the request of the Woodstock Police Department and the cause of death was determined to be heat stroke, the department said in a news release.  

Spartacus, a three-year-old Belgian Malinois, was a certified multi-purpose dog for the department and he worked narcotics detection, tracking, and apprehension. 

Spartacus' handler, a nine-year veteran of the police department, seven of which he has been a K-9 handler. 

He's currently on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of an internal investigation. The Pickens County Sheriff's Office, which responded to the incident, is conducting a separate investigation. 

"After the retirement of his first police K-9 who is now a family pet living with the K-9 handler, the handler is devastated by the loss of his second police K-9," Woodstock Police Department Public Information Officer Brittany Duncan said in the press release.

An announcement for a memorial service for Spartacus will be made at a future date. 

"We are committed to the care and proper treatment of our working K-9s," Duncan added. "We are mourning the loss of one of our own."

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